The Houston Rockets' strong performance finally brought them a long-awaited winning streak at home, as they defeated the Washington Wizards 107-92. This victory not only solidified their hopes for the playoffs but also gave fans more to look forward to.
Through this game, the young lineup of the Houston Rockets showcased their potential, especially in their dominant suppression in the paint and Shepherd's breakthroughs on the offensive end, which were impressive.
Speaking of the brightest star, it has to be Shen Jing.
This pillar of the Rockets' interior almost single-handedly carried the game with his dominant performance, making people wonder if the Rockets have found a future superstar by luck.
Let's take a look at the rhythm of the game!
In the first quarter, the Rockets set the tone.
Although the scores were close at the beginning of the game, the Rockets relied on Shen Jing's consecutive points in the paint to tear through the Wizards' defense with their strong inside attack.
Shen Jing is like a natural master of the paint, and the sense of powerlessness in defending him makes one imagine that he is fighting against a small mountain every time he attacks.
The Rockets led 30-28 in the first quarter, and although the lead was not big, you could feel that the advantage of the Rockets in the paint had begun to emerge.
Entering the second quarter, the Rockets' tactics gradually adjusted.
Shepherd shone brightly in this game, not only hitting several jump shots from beyond the arc on the offensive end but also finding an offensive rhythm from mid-range and beyond the three-point line.
His 7 points set a new high for the season, and although there are still problems in defense, facing the Wizards' repeated attacks, his defense was not tough enough, but his performance on the offensive end undoubtedly contributed valuable points to the Rockets.
In this quarter, although the Rockets' defense had some loopholes and the Wizards' counterattacks were not to be underestimated, the Rockets maintained their advantage with their overall strength, and at halftime, the Rockets had already taken an 8-point lead.
In the second half, the Rockets played more and more orderly, and Shen Jing remained an overwhelming force in the paint, with no one able to stop him.
In this quarter, the Rockets' offense completely opened up, with Shen Jing continuing to wreak havoc in the paint and Holiday's long-range shooting precise as a knife. The Rockets once led by 15 points, and the scene was quite fiery.
Although Kuzma of the Wizards found his touch and fought hard to lead the team to catch up, the Rockets remained steady and firmly controlled the rhythm of the game.
By the fourth quarter, although Kuzma once led the Wizards to reduce the gap to 6 points, Shen Jing stood out again, scoring two key points in a row to stabilize the situation, and the Rockets eventually locked in the victory with a 13-point advantage.
To say the most eye-catching performance of the game, it has to be Shen Jing.
He not only scored 27 points but also grabbed 17 rebounds and 3 assists, completely supporting both ends of the Rockets' offense and defense.
Especially in the confrontation with Sar, Shen Jing was like a bulldozer, capable of anything on both offense and defense.
You think, as an interior player, he can maintain efficient scoring in such an intense game, he is simply the Rockets' stabilizing force.
And the performance of other Rockets players is also worth mentioning.
Although Shepherd was a bit passive in defense, his performance on the offensive end can be said to live up to expectations.
Although his defense has become a breakthrough point for the Wizards many times, his accurate shooting on the offensive end, especially his three-pointers, helped the Rockets maintain the fluidity of the offense.
Scoring 7 points throughout the game, his performance is absolutely worthy of recognition.
And Jalen Green continued to score steadily, contributing many points with his 18-point performance. Although his shooting is sometimes unstable, he constantly breaks through and draws fouls to break the deadlock for the team, still playing an important role.
Speaking of the Wizards' performance, it was really disappointing.
Although Kuzma scored 18 points and played a leading role in bringing the team back in the critical moments, he seemed to be fighting alone throughout the game.
As for Sar, he was simply the tragic hero of today's game.
He only scored 5 points in the whole game, shooting 2 of 9, and missing all 3 three-point attempts.
It must be said that his performance was far from satisfactory, especially in the face of Shen Jing, he was almost powerless.
No wonder fans say that the Wizards' draft pick is a big disappointment.
If Sar cannot adapt to the intensity of the NBA, his future may really be difficult.
Some netizens commented: Shen Jing's performance is simply a blessing for the Rockets!
This game was completely Shen Jing's personal show, too strong!
Moreover, the Rockets' tactics are becoming clearer, Shen Jing is full in the paint, and Green's offense can also be guaranteed.
The only problem may be Shepherd, who is too weak in defense. The Wizards broke through him several times. We really need to consider how to improve the defense.
Another netizen said: The team chemistry shown by the Rockets in this game is really eye-catching.
Shen Jing and Green's pick-and-roll cooperation is becoming smoother, and the team's offensive system is more organized.
Especially Amen's defense is really a strong addition, his blocks and steals are very crucial.
The progress of the Rockets this season is really something to look forward to.
Another netizen said: The Wizards' performance was really poor.
Sar did not meet expectations at all, his shooting was so bad that I even doubted whether he chose the wrong shoes.
Kuzma is full of energy, but solo play really doesn't work. The Wizards still need to work harder on recruitment and see how to strengthen the team's overall performance.
There are also netizens who put forward their own views: The Rockets' draft is worthy of having vision. Although Shepherd's defense is still lacking, his offensive potential is really not small.
His outside shooting, especially his ability to shoot three-pointers off the dribble, fully meets the current needs of the Rockets' style of play.
As long as he can continue to make progress in defense, the future of the Rockets' backcourt will depend on him.
In this game, the Rockets showed their youthful vitality and future potential, especially Shen Jing's dominant performance, which completely ignited the fans' expectations for the Rockets' future.
On the Wizards' side, it must be said that their performance was really unsatisfactory, especially Sar's slump, which inevitably raises doubts about this draft pick.
The Rockets' next games will be more challenging, but if they can maintain this state, they will not only be able to consolidate their playoff position but also have the opportunity to occupy a place in the Western Conference competition.